Page 22

Chapter Twenty-two

Asteria

I sat in stunned silence as my mother finished explaining what had happened leading up to my birth.

“What happened after that?” Calix questioned her. “How did she get from being spirited away by your lady to having her magic locked away and wearing a human facade?”

I looked at him gratefully. My mind was going in a thousand directions, and I was trying not to cry as my mother explained the agonizing experience of sending her baby away.

“That ties back to the Oracle,” Aurelia responded quietly. “She had handed me a spell, and upon looking into it, we knew it would suppress anything magical about Asteria. Making her, in effect, human. The gods made it clear she must be hidden, and that she would have a great destiny to fulfill one day. I had faith that she would eventually break the spell, even if I had no idea how.”

She smiled at me, and I struggled to figure out how to feel about that, but there was another question that still needed answering. “How did I end up with my parents?”

At Aurelia’s wince, I hastily added, “The ones who raised me.”

“They were chosen in advance.” Aurelia sighed, rubbing a delicate hand over her eyes. “We needed people who lived as far from Day as possible. If we tried to hide you within the kingdom, people could potentially make the connection. Out of sight, out of mind was much better for your safety. So Odelina searched for human families in Sunrise and Sunset. The couple she found was unable to have children.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, remembering how my mother referred to me as their miracle. They’d given up hope of having a child of their own until I was born. My heart broke for them, knowing it never truly happened.

“I knew they would care for you as best a human could.” Aurelia sniffled, looking miserable for a moment, before she pulled herself back together. “I just wanted you to be as safe and happy as possible.”

She paused, closing her eyes momentarily. “Even if it wasn’t with me.”

I let out a breath, collapsing back into my chair. Calix’s hand found mine and squeezed. I clung to it, thankful once more for his support.

“We’ve been preparing in the meantime.” Arien began, looking at me intently. “We knew when you did return to us, we’d have to move quickly, as Father would likely also find out.” Aurelia nodded decisively in agreement.

“I began the work early, turning those in the court I could to our side,” she informed us, making my eyebrows rise, but before I could open my mouth, she continued. “Arien is your General.” She looked fondly at my brother, who straightened slightly. “He’s been preparing all his life to lead your armies when the time came.”

“Lead my armies?” I echoed, stupefied.

Arien nodded slightly. “Of course. War is inevitable. Day will be torn down the middle, and we’ll have to fight to take over the kingdom and install you as queen.”

“This is much larger than just Day Kingdom,” Calix rumbled from beside me, glaring at him. “Cyrus is allied with Aelius, and he will stop at nothing to get Asteria back.”

“That will not happen,” Arien growled. “We will protect her.”

“I will protect myself,” I interjected firmly before the two males, who both saw me as theirs in some way, could come to blows. “But Calix is right. The balance of Celesterra is at stake. Cyrus is using blood magic and killing humans to fuel it. He has to be stopped. And I will not stop until all of the humans throughout Celesterra are free.”

Aurelia scoffed, looking at me in a way that caused a flush of anger to run through me, like I was a child that didn’t know any better. “That will never happen, my love. I know you probably feel some sort of kinship with the humans, but?—”

“Kinship?” I snarled, leaning my hands on the table and rising from my chair. Aurelia leaned back, looking like I’d slapped her. “I was human. All my life.”

Aurelia opened her mouth, but I continued before she could. “And don’t you dare say I wasn’t ever human. In all the ways that matter, I was. I was raised human, completely powerless. I was a slave . Forced into submission to Fae masters who controlled my life. I was used, forced into acts I would never have consented to, made to watch as innocents were brutally killed. I lived with rage over my circumstances all my life, dreaming of one day escaping to freedom. I will not allow other humans to keep experiencing that misery.”

Dead silence followed my statement, but I could feel Calix’s pride as I sat back down.

“We’ve only planned for a war within Day, but it sounds like you have much greater plans,” Arien said calmly, his eyes carrying a trace of pride themselves. I smiled slightly at him, and he returned it while Aurelia sat up straighter in her chair.

“Yes, Calix, please,” my birth mother drawled. “I’m dying to hear about this scheme of yours.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. She seemed so different at this moment. A haughty Fae queen as opposed to the loving and devastated mother. Which was the real her? I didn’t know her well enough to say, and it made me wary.

Calix’s frustration burned within me, and I reached over to lay a hand on his thigh, letting him know I was with him.

“We have been working to free humans for years, taking them out of the worst kingdoms when we could,” he explained, watching Arien closely. “We were careful not to upset the balance. We knew the corrupt leaders in those kingdoms were hurting the balance badly enough as it was. Now, with Cyrus escalating, we are working to gain additional allies.”

“We’re planning to go to Sunrise after this. We have an invitation to talk with them and hopefully convince them to side with us against Dusk.” I told them, and Arien’s brow rose before they creased, a contemplative look crossing his face.

“What about Sunset? Dawn?” He looked between Calix and me, and Calix nodded for me to continue.

“Sunset hasn’t answered yet, but Dawn is firmly aligned with Dusk. Cyrus and Zerlina are betrothed. She will do anything to be queen, even take his abuse.” I sighed sadly, remembering the look in her eyes. She might be an uppity bitch, but she didn’t deserve that fate.

“So that leaves us with the split in Day to contend with.” Arien mused, and it was Calix’s turn to raise a brow.

“You intend to let Asteria actually rule? Take control of the armies of Day and join Night in the fight against Dusk? Despite the fact your own father is allied with Cyrus?” Calix taunted, and Arien growled, leaning toward him.

“Of course we mean for her to rule! That’s what all of this has been for. If she wants to take those on our side to fight Cyrus and my father, though, we first need to gain control of the armies of Day,” Arien insisted. “About half the nobles will support her as long as my father rules, which means we only have half an army.”

“If half the nobles will side with Aelius, then it’s important we still find outside allies.” I broke the staring contest between them as I spoke up. “Calix and I have to continue on to Sunrise, and once we get back…” I trailed off, looking to Calix, who gave me a look that let me know it was my decision to tell them or not. I bit my lip, thinking on it.

“What?” Arien asked softly, and I sighed, deciding that it was better if we were all on the same page.

“The gods want to speak to us,” I told him, and his eyes went wide.

“What are you talking about?” Aurelia asked, her sharp brow rising.

“My sister is a seer,” Calix told her, and the other brow rose. “We’ve kept her ability a secret from any outside Night, so I’d appreciate it if you kept that between us.”

Arien nodded once, and I looked at Aurelia, pointedly. She rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

“She got a message from the gods that once I had control of my power, Calix and I needed to journey to the city of the gods to meet with them,” I informed them both.

“Why? And why both of you?” Arien looked between us, his brows creased.

“I’m not sure, honestly.” I shook my head. “As for them requesting both of us, I can only assume it’s because we’re mates, right?” I looked to Calix.

“It’s likely.” Calix nodded slowly. “They have plans for you, and the prophecy Aurelia shared, it seemed to indicate that whatever happens, we’ll be doing it together.” He grabbed my hand then, smirking, and making me bite my lip in response to the bolt of arousal that shot through me. “Not that I’d ever allow for anything less.”

“Well, you’ll have to get used to it.” Aurelia countered, and my head whipped to her, frowning.

“What do you mean?” I asked her, confused.

“Asteria,” She softened her voice. “You will be queen of Day. Calix is king of Night. You have separate kingdoms to rule.”

My heart dropped along with my mouth. I hadn’t considered…

I turned to look at Calix, who placed a hand on my cheek. “We will not be separated, my réalta. I swear it.”

“How?” I asked him, desperately. “If we have to rule two different kingdoms…” I trailed off, swallowing hard.

“Duty often means doing that which we dread, daughter,” Aurelia said, and all I could do was shake my head.

“Fuck your duty . She’s my mate .” Calix growled, his hands coming around my waist as he held me to him. “The gods have brought us together for a reason . This won’t tear us apart.”

Aurelia laughed slightly, a scoff underlining it. “Soulmates are overrated. Look at me and Aelius. I know this only ends one way—with his death. I am willing to sacrifice my own mate for the sake of my daughter.”

“That’s different.” Calix snarled, and I looked up at him, tears lining my eyes. For all that, I hadn’t felt ready for what the mate bond meant. I’d been slowly coming to terms with it. And now, with the threat of having to separate from him… everything within me rebelled at the thought. I clutched at him like the world might take him away if I didn’t.

While Calix went back and forth with my mother, I quickly came to the realization that I didn’t want to live a life without Calix. He had become everything to me.

He was one of my best friends. He’d given me all the tools I needed to feel safe and to take agency of myself. He stepped back when I needed him to, and stepped forward when I wanted the opposite. He was my shelter in this chaotic world, making me feel safer in his arms than anywhere else.

He’d helped me bring my magic out and flew with me through the skies. He’d danced with me on the ballroom floor as much as the training ring. He made me laugh even at times when I didn’t think it was possible.

And I still remembered the Festival of Faunus, the feeling of us finally coming together. It had felt right in a way nothing else ever had.

Looking up at him now, the Aurora dancing through his eyes like a siren song calling to me, I knew I wouldn’t be able to take any kind of separation from him.

But what about Day Kingdom?

They’d been waiting on me for years, preparing for me to take the throne. My mother and brother worked tirelessly to ensure I could come in and take power.

My heart was tearing in two. There was no other way to explain it.

“Calix…” I trailed off, unsure how to continue. He shook his head at whatever my mother had just said before turning back to me. He softened immediately, running his fingers down my cheek.

“It’s late,” he said quietly. “Let’s get some rest. We can reconvene tomorrow and sort out plans for moving forward.”

“Of course.” Arien rushed to say as our mother opened her mouth. Aurelia glared at him, but Arien just walked toward me.

“Asteria.” He dropped to one knee, bowing his head. “I swear myself to you, the one true queen of Day, from this day, until my last day. I will be your sword and your shield. I will stay in your service as long as you will have me. This I promise you, my Queen.”

Emotion clogged my throat, and I struggled to form words. “Rise, brother.”

He looked up, slowly rising, and I gave him a teary smile. Unsure if there was a formal way to do this, I just went with what felt right. “I accept your service. From this day, until your last. But beyond being my sword and my shield, I wish you to be my brother first and foremost.”

Tears formed in his own eyes, and he nodded his head heavily. “Of course, sister.”

I threw my arms around him, and I spied my mother watching. A slight smile lit her face, though she looked uncertain.

I was just as uncertain when it came to her. I wasn’t sure where we stood, or where we might stand one day. But I knew, deep inside, that my twin would at least always be there, whatever may come.